STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

So, I spoke with my co-worker... this is what he said:

The one thing you must do in Oxford during the summer is punting. Here’s a trick: buy a disposable BBQ for a nice cook out on the canal, and be the envy of the stuffy “strawberry-and-champagne” crowd. 

The most crucial element to a good Oxford experience is the college one is associated with. Each college has its own unique bar/pub and dining hall. One thing to try to do is to get invited to as many dinners at different colleges as possible, to see the halls and chapels and etc. I don’t know what it’s like for summer interns, but during normal academic year every night each college serves a formal three-course dinner that require jacket and tie and gown… This college dining experience you won’t get anywhere else in the world (except Cambridge).

The pubs I used to frequent often: 

Bookbinder's (which used to be my local pub)

The Bear (oldest pub in Oxford, famous and probably touristy)

Duke of Cambridge (trendy when I was there)

Eagle & Child (Tolkien and C.S Lewis used to hang out there)

Gardeners' Arms (north Oxford, local pub,  cozy in the winter, not very touristy)

There are many more of course. But trust me after six pints all pubs are the same.

As for restaurants, we used to go to Liaison for dim sum every weekend, which is about as good as one can have anywhere in the UK, London included. Other ones I liked are Al Shami (Lebanese, good one!), Bombay (chef-owned Indian), Lemon Tree (modern English, probably the best place in town, also the most pricey). If you have money to blow, try Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons outside Oxford, one of the few Michellin 3* restaurants outside London.

And finally forget about clubs. Oxford clubs suck. London has the best clubs in the world.

HTH!